Balkan Legal News – 21 May 2025

The following media round-up on international, legal and foreign policy issues from around the Balkans for the period from 14 May to 20 May 2025.

Guernica 37 will provide weekly media updates with a focus on Bosnia and Hercegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Ned Vucijak at nenadv@guernica37.com for consideration.

Guernica 37 Balkan Legal News

Bosnia and Hercegovina – 20 May 2025

The Prime Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nermin Nikšić, discussed with the Special Representative of the Republic of Slovenia for the Western Balkans, Anžej Frangeš, the current political situation in BiH, as well as the challenges and opportunities for overcoming the current political crisis through dialogue and institutional cooperation. The full article can be found here.

Hungary – 20 May 2025

US-Hungarian relations have improved markedly since Trump returned to the White House, but the US has its own national interests, and Orban’s foreign policy, centred on expanding ties with Russia and China, could suffer as a result. The full article can be found here.

North Macedonia – 19 May 2025

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski claims deal with UK will kickstart 'investment revolution' in North Macedonia – but some critics insist it may involve taking asylum-seekers from the UK in return. The full article can be found here.

Albania – 19 May 2025

The secretary-general of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, tells BIRN why the European rights body recently adopted the first-ever international treaty aimed at protecting lawyers from harassment and threats. The full article can be found here. 

North Macedonia – 16 May 2025

After a retrial, the two former directors of a COVID-19 hospital in the city of Tetovo were given jail sentences for endangering public safety over a fire in 2021 that killed 14 patients. The full article can be found here.

Kosovo – 16 May 2025

Former Kosovo Liberation Army guerrilla Pjeter Shala appealed against the verdict jailing him for 18 years for war crimes – but the prosecution and victims’ representative insisted the sentencing was fair. The full article can be found here.

Kosovo – 15 May 2025

A former commander of a local Serbian police unit in Zvecan was arrested as a suspect in the wartime murders and deportations of ethnic Albanian civilians. The full article can be found here.

Hungary – 14 May 2025

Experts say the proposed law would have a chilling effect on freedom of expression and the media, stifling criticism ahead of the 2026 general election.

The full article can be found here.